Microsoft plans innovative new school in Knowsley says Bill Gates
Tag: Local Government Print article:  Email article:  This was published: 1 Feb 2007 - 10:30 am
Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates yesterday announced a significant worldwide expansion of the Innovative Schools initiative as part of his keynote address at the Microsoft Government Leaders Forum (GLF) Europe.
 Tailored to meet local community needs, the Innovative Schools will be rolled out in 12 locations around the world including United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Germany, Finland, Sweden, Qatar, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Chile and Hong Kong.
Microsoft’s Innovative Schools initiative works with governments, teachers and partners around the world to modernise schools to meet the challenges of 21st Century learning. The initiative was initially used to develop the Philadelphia School of the Future, opened in the United States September last year. More than just a technology solution, Microsoft and the School District of Philadelphia joined forces to create a 750-student high school that embodies innovation and technology. Microsoft is now committing to offer a programme of support for schools worldwide.
This initiative will be further developed in the UK to evolve Microsoft’s support for the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme – a Ł45bn investment by the UK Government to transform secondary education in England. The capital investment for BSF, including at least 10% for ICT, to rebuild or remodel every secondary school, is being used as a lever to raise standards and accelerate systemic change in education to ready UK plc for success in a knowledge economy.
Microsoft has been working with UK Government agencies, including Partnership for Schools, and leading local authorities, Knowsley, Sheffield, Sandwell, Kent and Lewisham to create tools and processes which can help create a vision for the transformed school of tomorrow in these communities and sees the Innovative Schools initiative as the next step in this work.
Tim Byles, Chief Executive of Partnerships for Schools said: “The BSF programme is about creating inspirational physical and virtual learning environments in which our young people have the opportunity to fulfil their true potential. The innovative use of ICT is a necessary condition to deliver this, and we very much welcome the commitment and engagement shown by Microsoft and the wider community of ICT providers.”
The UK’s Innovative School, Bowring Community Sports College situated in Knowsley, is currently preparing to transform its curriculum in readiness for its transfer to a new Learning Centre that will be developed under Knowsley’s Building Schools for the Future Programme.
Transformational and area wide change is the real agenda and Bowring will act to co-ordinate the engagement with Microsoft to ensure that the wider Building Schools for the Future programme in the borough of Knowsley benefits. Knowsley is committed to sharing the learning of this opportunity to a wider forum of like minded local authorities that Microsoft will facilitate as part of this initiative in the UK.
Damian Allen, Executive Director of Children's Services, Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council said: “The BSF program is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform education and deliver schools to support the 21st century knowledge economy. Strong emphasis on solid partnerships between government, industry and school is a critical success factor to evolve the education system. Schools can benefit from the industry and in Microsoft’s case the company has provided a clear roadmap to improve operations, instruction and communication between the classroom and home through the use of technology.”
Bill Gates, Chairman, Microsoft Corporation said, “Education is key to maintaining economic competitiveness. Education is key to fostering the social and economic conditions we need for entrepreneurs to succeed, and education is key to nurturing strong communities where people can realise their full potential. As an employer, we understand the need for a skilled workforce to build the knowledge economy.
We don’t presume to have all the answers, but we are committed to working with teachers, policymakers and students around the world to find and implement solutions to help bolster the future of education.”
Preparing students for the 21st century is a huge challenge and one that educators should not have to shoulder alone. As technology advances at an accelerating pace schools will find it more difficult to provide an education that will provide employers with the skills in critical thinking, creative problem solving and technical skills to drive a competitive knowledge economy. However this trend also represents an opportunity for education to become more productive and creative through the use of technology.
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